Hailing the Lies, Punishing the Truth

by ALI SINAMay 18, 2011

In his May 14, 2011 article, published in the Ottawa Citizen, Michael Taube, a former speech writer for Prime Minister Stephen Harper, blasted Geert Wilders and accused him of not understanding the difference between radical Islam and moderate Islam.

Wilders is the founder of the Party for Freedom (PVV), the Netherlands' third-largest political party. He is concerned about the rapid Islamization of his country. He believes that Islam poses an existential threat to the western civilization that is based on Judeo-Christian and humanistic values. He has compared the Quran to Mein Kampf and has advocated banning the construction of new mosques and a moratorium on Muslim immigration. He has said that Islamic immigrants are the Trojan horse in Europe and that it is only a matter of time for this continent to become Eurabia. “In short,” Taube points out, “Wilders wants to remove elements that he believes are tearing apart the fabric of his society -and assimilate those who genuinely want to live in peace.”

Taube says although we can discuss and debate the merits of Wilders' ideas until eternity, Wilders does not understand the difference between radical Islam and moderate Islam. Why do we need to debate for eternity on something that is so obvious?

Taube names a few Muslims like Salim Mansur, Irshad Manji and Tarek Fatah and even Ayaan Hirsi Ali whom he acknowledges to be an atheist as examples of moderate Muslims. How an atheist can be called a Muslim, is something only Taube can explain. He must think anyone with an Arabic name must be a Muslim. For the record, Ali’s views on Islam are not different from Wilders’ or mine.

This is not Taube’s only misunderstanding. His charge on Wilders is also a straw man fallacy. Wilders has repeatedly stated that the majority of Muslims are moderate, whom he urges to assimilate. Yet, he believes that Islam is not moderate.

Taube says he was “completely floored,” when he heard Wilders say, “Please forget about the concept of radical Islam. There is only one Islam, and that cannot be taught to young children that we want to have a full and a respected life in our societies," and that made him write his venomous article against Wilders.

Why pick on Wilders? Why not attack Turkey’s Prime Minister who also says the same thing? Erdogan is offended when westerners categorize Islam as “moderate Islam” and “radical Islam.” The Turkish newspaper Milliyet quoted him say, “These descriptions are very ugly, it is offensive and an insult to our religion. There is no moderate or immoderate Islam. Islam is Islam and that’s it.” See also here.

Is it possible that Erdogan and all the Muslim scholars don’t understand Islam, and Mr. Taube does? It is this arrogance, this patronizing of the westerners who try to define Islam for Muslims that offends them. Muslims are not familiar with such terms. They have no words for Islamism, and radical or moderate Islam. These terms were invented by westerners. There is only one Islam. It is the Islam of Muhammad – the Islam of the Quran, you either follow it or you don’t.

Like followers of any faith, Muslims are not all alike. In Christianity, there are people like Jimmy Swaggart and James Baker and there are also people like Mother Theresa. We can argue that Mother Theresa was a true follower of Jesus whereas the other two were not.

Likewise, not all Muslims follow their religion to the tee. However, when they do they become terrorists. “Moderate Muslims,” are moderate, to the extent that they don’t follow Islam. They are lukewarm or wishy-washy Muslims.

Jesus never advocated violence. He said those who live by the sword will perish by the sword. He urged his follower to forgive peoples’ sins so theirs can be forgiven. Nothing comparable to that exists in the Quran. The Qiran says, “Fighting is prescribed for you, and you dislike it. But it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you?” (Q. 2:216)

The Quran tells Muslims to kill the disbelievers wherever they find them (2:191), murder them and treat them harshly (9:123), slay them (9:5), fight with them (8:65), strive against them with great endeavor (25:52), be stern with them because they belong to hell (66:9). Is there anything like these in any other religious book?

Taube believes “Wilders' position on Islam is complete nonsense.” Taube is ignorant of Islam. It is his position that is complete nonsense. Wilders is merely reading from the Islamic texts. Many of Wilders argument, such as “the Quran is like Mein Kamph,” “Islamic immigration is Islam’s Trojan horse,” and “Islam is the only religion that does not recognize the Golden Rule,” were previously said by yours truly. I am glad that a politician of Wilder’s stature has the fortitude to bring them to the world attention and I am honored that he has quoted me in several of his speeches.

Those named by Taube (with the exception of the apostate Ayaan Hirsi Ali) don’t tell the truth about Islam. After the 9/11 tragedy the world asked where the moderate Muslims are. There was a demand for this “commodity.” These opportunists rose to fill that demand. They sell books, and are invited to television shows as experts. The westerners are their only audience. They have no following among Muslims. Irshad Manji is a Lesbian for heaven’s sake. If anyone thinks Muslims will take a Lesbian as their spiritual guide, that person must be living la-la land. To a Muslim the idea is laughable. These people tell what westerners love to hear. If you want to be fooled, be my guest but don’t expect Muslims to be fooled. Muslims follow their Quran.

Let me give you one example of the deception of these “moderates.” In an ABC 20/20 special interview Manji claimed that the houris promised in the Quran are actually not virgins but raisins.

Let us see what the Quran says about the houris. They will have dark eyes and will be wedded to Muslims (Q.44: 51-54), (52:20). They are bashful whom neither man nor jinni will have touched before (55: 54-56). They are dark eyed, sheltered in their tents (55:70-74). They will be the companions of the martyrs. They will have beautiful lustrous eyes – like pearls well guarded (Q. 56:22-24).They are created (maiden) of special creation and as virgins, loving their husbands only (Q. 56:35-38). And they will have swelling breasts (Q.78: 31-34). Are these the descriptions of raisins?

This is how these “moderate Muslims,” hailed by Taube, try to fool their non Muslim viewers. The media loves to hear these ludicrous lies, but hates Wilders’ truth. Why? What does this say about our society that punishes the truth as hate speech and hails lies? How can a society founded on such a self deception survive?

Truth matters. Even if it hurts, it is our only salvation. Manji and her ilk are deceptive liars. How can we benefit from lies and gain by prosecuting the truth? I have strived for 13 years to understand this mentality and still I don’t. Maybe Taube can help.

The story of raisins is just one example of Islamic deception. It is utterly shameless. Everything Manji and other so called “moderate Muslims” say are lies. If you love lies, listen to them and buy their books, but don’t spit and say it is raining.

I sent this article to Ottawa Citizen in response to what they published. They refused to publish it. Doesn’t fairness require that opposing views should also be heard? Apparently not for Ottawa Citizen.

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